Steel jaw-trap.



J. A. GALLUP. STEEL JAW TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1910.

Patented May 16, 1911.

JARED A. GALLUP, 0F MOOSUP, CONNECTICUT.

STEEL JAW-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 14, 1910. Serial No. 566,720.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JARED A. GALLUP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moosup, in the county of WVindham and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steel J aw- Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to steel jaw-traps, and has for its object to provide a trap designed for catching different kinds of ani-- mals, the arrangement of parts being such that the jaws of the trap may be released either upon upward or downward movement of the bait-pan, as desired.

A further object of my invention is, in a trap of the character mentioned, to afford a simple, quickly-acting mechanism, which can be readily manufactured, and at low cost.

With such objects in view, my invention, in its preferred embodiment, includes the construction and combination of parts hereinafter to be described in detail, and set forth more particularly in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to be read in conjunction therewith, Figure I is a View in perspective, of a trap, embodying my present invention, and showing the jaws set so as to be released upon upward movement of the bait-pan; Fig. II is a view, in side elevation, of the trap, with parts broken away and jaws released, and Fig. III is a view, in side elevation, with parts broken away, showing the jaws set so as to be released upon downward movement of the bait-pan.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views, A designates a base-plate, and a are cars carried thereby. Mounted in the cars a are jaws a, a respectively, and a is a spring controlling the jaws aforesaid.

a is an extension on the base-plate A, and has secured to it, the posts a and a respectively.

a is a plate, pivoted to the post a at a, and carrying at its lower end a bar a, to

the forward part of which is secured a baitpan a. The plate 01, is cut away at its lower portion, front and rear, as indicated at w. The cut-away portions, or notches w, are arranged, as shown, at points below the pivotal point a of plate a, and on opposite sides of the same.

a is a catch, pivoted to post a and arranged to engage the rear notch, or cut-away portion w, and a is a rectangular shaped hook, or catch, also pivoted to post a and arranged to engage the forward notch, or cut-away portion a The operation of my device, briefly, is as follows: WVhen it is desired to use the trap for catching birds, such as chicken-hawks, and the like, the rear notch, or cut-away portion is used, the jaws being forced down against tendency of spring a, and catch a is thrown forvard over jaw a until it engages in the rear notch a; of plate a. The bait is first secured to the bait-pan, in any suitable manner. Further downward movement of the bait-pan, serves merely to lock the parts more tightly, but as soon as any attempt is made to remove the bait, upward, the pan is likewise moved upward, causing plate a to be disengaged from the locking catch, whereupon the jaws are released. To use the trap for catching squirrels, or similar ground animals, the jaws are forced down, after positioning the bait, and catch a is thrown forward, until it engages under the forward notch, or out-away portion as, of pivotal plate a. Thereafter, upon downward movement of the bait-pan, caused by an animal walking, or stepping thereon, the hook is disengaged from the notched plate, and the jaws released.

While I have shown and described my invention in certain precise embodiments, I desire it to be understood that I am not limited to the exact form of construction disclosed, and intend to cover by this application any such changes and modifications as are comprehended within the claims hereto annexed.

What I desire to secure by Letters-Patent, and claim, is:

1. In a jaw-trap, the combination with pivoted, spring-controlled jaws, of a post, a plate pivotally mounted on said post, a bait-pan carried by said plate, the aforesaid plate being provided with a curved Patented May 16, 1911.

slot, and a pin secured to the aforementioned post and in engagement with said slot.

2. In a jaw-trap, the combination with pivoted, spring-controlled jaws, of a pivot I T ally mounted plate, a bait-pan carried by said plate and in front of its pivotal point, the aforesaid plate being provided with a locking recess in front of and beneath its pivotal point, and a looking-catch arranged nesses.

JARED A. GALLUP.

Witnesses:

AMORY J. KEBLER, Nn'r'rm PARKHURST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

